Dessert

Strawberry Lemonade Mousse!

Can you believe that Summer is almost here? I know that Spring just started, but the temperatures are rising here in the south, so it may as well be summer! My favorite part of Summer is sipping lemonade while the kiddos are playing, so today I am turning my favorite drink into my new favorite dessert, Strawberry Lemonade Mousse! …

Easy Rainbow Cheesecake!

Do you smell that? It is starting to smell like spring, at least here in the south. The weather is starting to warm up and I can not wait to start getting outside more. With the celebration of Spring I decided to share this super easy Rainbow Cheesecake! The recipe calls for minimal ingredients and it is no bake! …

Berry Lemonade Bars | Easy Summer Recipe

These Berry Lemonade Bars are a simple and yummy recipe for the hot summer months! Who doesn’t love a good easy summer recipe?
One of my favorite parts of summer is the fresh veggies and berries that I can collect around my yard. Last year we planted a Berry Patch, even though we already had a ton of berry bushes around the property, I wanted more! And, I have plans this fall to plant another… But, now I have a problem, a good problem, but still a problem. I have a ton of frozen berries in my freezer from last year, and now it is time to harvest even more! So, it was time to pull out the frozen berries and make something yummy!
They have just the right amount of zing from the fresh lemon juice and the sweetness of all of the yummy berries that I used. For this recipe I used a combination of strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. You can use all different kinds, or stick to your favorite. I figured I might as well pack as many berries into it as I could that way I could make room for this years harvest.
This recipe would be perfect for a summer BBQ! I will be making some more for the 4th of July because these will not last long in our home… They are THAT good!

Golden Graham Smores Bars

Summer means a lot of things for me, and one of those things is Smores. There is nothing like an gooey smore right off of the campfire. I prefer mine a little burnt, but that is just me. Unfortunately I can not always run out and start a bomb fire when the craving hits me, so coming up with ideas to get my fix with out the fire was a top priority for me this week. These Golden Graham Smores Bars fit the bill quit nicely I must say. They are chewy with just the right amount of graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SunsOutSpoonsOut #CollectiveBias

Homemade Frozen Lemonade Recipe!

Temperatures have been heating up here in North Carolina, which means summer has made an early appearance. That means that my craving for ice cream is pretty much in overdrive. There is nothing better than a nice cool treat after being out in the heat working on the yard. I had also been eyeballing fresh lemons from our local farmers market, and I knew that I wanted to do something that involved lemons, so I combined them! This yummy Homemade Frozen Lemonade Recipe is the prefect combination of sweet and tart and only takes a few minutes to make! All you need is some ice, sugar, fresh lemons and vanilla ice cream. I used the Blue Bunny Premium Vanilla, which is pretty much my favorite vanilla ice cream made! You can use store bought lemonade or even store bought lemon juice, but nothing beats freshly squeezed in my book! After you have assembled your team of yummy ingredients, just pop it all into a blender or food processor! Blend until smooth and serve right away! You can add as much sugar as you like, or omit it all together if you like things a little more tart. I only add a little to cut through the sourness of the lemon. The possibilities are really endless with this recipe though, I think the next batch I will use the Double Strawberry to make a frozen pink lemonade! Be sure the next time you are at Walmart to check out all of the yummy flavors that Blue Bunny has to offer! I recommended the Pistachio Almond… So yummy! Also, be sure to check out the Blue Bunny demos at Walmart from 5/21/2015 – 5/24/2015 in the produce section of your store, you can see a list or participating stores here!

No Bake Snickers Peanut Butter Pie!

As I have mentioned many times before, I am a bit of a chocolate and peanut butter addict. They don’t always have to be together, they are perfect all by themselves too. But, when they get together, there is just something magical about it. With the Spring here, and the weather warming, it means it is time for family gatherings and fun BBQ get togethers. I’ll admit, I have put off making something to take to a party on more than one occasion, but that is why this No Bake Snickers Peanut Butter Pie recipe is great! Minimal effort with a big payoff! Plus, it may look like a simple peanut butter pie, but when friends and family slice into it, there is a hidden surprise of Snickers peanut butter squares hiding at the bottom. The filling is rich and creamy and the Snickers give it a nice little crunch as well! Yum!

2 Ingredient Fudge with tons of combinations!

AHHH! I am so behind this year with Holiday stuff, that I almost forgot to make goodie bags for my neighbors and friends. Of course, this meant that I would be pulling out the big guns when it comes to last minute DIY gifts. I already have my 3.2.1 cake mix ready to go, but I wanted to also include a yummy snack that was ready to eat! This 2 Ingredient Fudge fits the bill perfectly! It only takes 2 ingredients, and literally 2 minutes to make! Plus, there are ton of flavor combinations that you can make! The sky is the limit! Now of course, peanut butter and chocolate are my all time favorite combos, but this fudge doesn’t end there! Here is a list of some of my favorite combos! 1 Can Vanilla Frosting + 2 Cups Creamy Peanut Butter = Peanut Butter Fudge 1 Can Chocolate Frosting + 2 Cups Chocolate Chips = Chocolate Fudge 1 Can Vanilla Frosting + 2 Cups White Chocolate Chips = Vanilla Fudge 1 Can Strawberry Frosting + 2 Cups White Chocolate Chips = Strawberry Fudge 1 Can Vanilla Frosting + 2 Cups White Chocolate Chips + 1 tsp Mint Extract + 1/2 Cup Crushed Oreos = Mint Oreo Fudge 1 Can Orange Flavor Frosting + 2 Cups White Chocolate Chips = Orangesicle Fudge 1 Can Vanilla Frosting + 2 Cups White Chocolate Chips + 1/2 Cup Crushed Candy Canes = Peppermint Fudge I think you get the idea here. Don’t forget that you can add in extras like nuts and candy as well to make it even more special! To make any of these fudge recipes, you simply melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, stirring every so often. Then add in your frosting and stir until well combined! Pour out into a lined 8×8 baking pan and refrigerate for 1 hour!

Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars with Brownie Crust!

It is the Holiday season, which means that my hubby has work pot lucks all this week. It NEVER fails, I always get the assignment of making cheesecake…Every…Single…Time. Hubby said after this las lunch, there were tons of cheesecake left on the table, except mine. This cheesecake (as well as a few others I made) were gone within minutes. His coworkers refer to me as the “Cheesecake Lady”…lol To make these already yummy bars even better, I drizzled them with both a chocolate and a peanut butter ganache! This year, I wanted to give them some varity, so I made these yummy Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars with a brownie crust, and a also made a chocolate version as well. The Chocolate Cheesecake bars will be posted next week. No need for a cheesecake overload. I prefer to make cheesecake bars because they do not take forever to bake, and I do not have to water bathe them while baking, which is a total plus, since I only had 24 hour notice to make 60+ servings.

Preheat over to 350 degrees and line an 8x8 inch cake pan with parchment paper so that the edges overlap over the sides.

In a large bowl combine butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and salt. Mix until well combined. Stir in the vanilla and then the eggs, one at a time, mixing very well after each addition. Add the flour and mix until combined. Spread into prepared pan and bake for 15 minutes.

Brownies should be slightly set, but not fully baked. Set aside to cool.

Filling:

(8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

/3 cup light brown sugar

large eggs, room temperature

/2 cup smooth peanut butter

teaspoon vanilla extract

/8 teaspoon salt

Using a hand or stand mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar on medium-high speed until well combined and smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until combined. Add in the peanut butter, vanilla, and salt and beat until just combined. Pour over the cooled brownie crust.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Filling should be set around the edges and slightly jiggly in the center. Allow to cool at room temperature on a cooling rack for 1 hour and then refrigerate to chill through.

Topping:

Heat whipping cream until it comes to a low boil. Place chocolate and peanut butter chips into two separate bowls and pour equal parts of the whipping cream into each bowl. Allow to set for 1 minute to melt chips.

Mix each bowl until each is well combined, allow to set for 5 minutes to thicken. Drizzle over cooled cheesecake